Risk factors associated with taeniasis-cysticercosis in Lagamar, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

• Main Authors: Mario León Silva-Vergara, Aluízio Prata, Horácio Velloso Silveira Netto, Cláudio de Oliveira Vieira, João Henrique Castro, Luciane Giroto Micheletti, Arturo Santana Otaño, João Franquini Júnior
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 1998
• Subjects: Taeniasis; Cysticercosis; Seizures; Swine; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/6a2ae727f92645f3b968dd3c7ed0e983

An epidemiological survey was carried out in 3,344 people of an urban town in Lagamar, Minas Gerais, Brazil - during 1992-1993, to evaluate the main risk factors related to taeniasis and cysticercosis. A total number of 875 (78.9%) houses were visited and 1080 (32.3%) subjects were clinically examined. Poor sanitary conditions were positively associated with former history of taeniasis or seizures in households (p < 0.05). It was remarkable the positive relationship between taeniasis and seizures when households were questioned and subjects were clinically evaluated (p < 0.05). The relative risk of seizures was 2.3 between households and 1.7 for individuals clinically examined respectively. The breeding of swine nearby and the chronic carriers of taeniasis are determinant factors in the maintenance of the epidemiological link between taeniasis and cysticercosis in endemic areas.